stage
I am happiest when I am in the theatre, as a director,
watching characters I have created come to life. There is no greater
pleasure. I adore actors so much—we writers don’t have a career without them.”
Throughout the show, under the direction of Emerson Collins (producer, director and actor best known for four seasons of Bravo’s The People’s Couch), Shores will introduce us to “Yvonne,” an anti-vegetarian Dallas waitress; “Sarah,” a Drumpf-hating elderly actress with an inhaler in one hand and a cigarette in the other; “Jimmy Ray,” the evolving,Magic Mike-loving latent Georgia redneck; “Loraine,” the once-brilliant drama teacher who has lost her damn mind and is now obsessed with porn; “Marsha,” the monkey-hating lesbian with COPD; and “Aunt Bobby Sue,” the racist Republican with a heart of gold. The Rage Monthly connected with Shores just
as he was walking out of a
funeral...Only fitting with his often dark humor. He joked, “Thank you for calling me, this funeral was just dragging on... never give an amateur a microphone.” In truth, Shores appreciates moments that bring community together, honor people and celebrate the unique. “I suppose my characters are a little bit larger
than life. They are truly eccentric, anyway at least in a way that catches my attention. My Aunt Bobby Sue—OMG, she is a crazy real person—that is a character who grabs you. In everything I do, I am a storyteller. That word storyteller, it just covers everything, or else I am just a big fat liar. There is some stretching of the truth, some blending of characters,” says Shores.
“While the show focuses on six characters, I
really play 10 or 12. It’s a lot of different voices, but also a lot of detail, a focus on mannerisms, stature and how the body feels in that character. This is one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life, partly because I am taking direction instead of giving it, I have to trust and let go. It has been interesting to show people how twisted my mind can be as I circle around these characters,” continued Shores. In writing about and portraying people from his
life, Shores’ policy is to ask for forgiveness. “I try, these days, to piss less people off. For example, my cousin, Cami, her mother committed suicide, and her memorial service became a bit humorous. Since I knew she was coming to see the play in Dallas, I let her in on the scene referencing her mom. She actually loved it and gave me her blessing. So, I’ve learned to let it fly and hope for the best. Honestly, one aunt didn’t speak to me for seven years. She was one of the Sordid Lives characters.” In gearing up to do a tour-de-force one-man show, Shores has fallen back on his stand-up experience and finds inspiration in the work of colleagues like Leslie Jordan. He has also taken up a daily routine: “To prepare on show nights, I read the script out loud every day. For me it is a lot of repetition and discipline, and I do notice a difference. The play launched in Dallas with four sold-out shows, by the third show I felt like I hit my stride.”
Outside of wrapping up the writing of this show
in 2017 and taking it on the road, Shores has kept himself plenty busy, “I am developing a new series, and that is going very well, it is in collaboration with Emerson. We have signed with a very good TV producer and that is about all I can tell you. I also have a new play coming out, This Side of Crazy. It is set in a white gospel church where the matriarch of the Blaylock Sisters, Diddy, has forced them to attend a reunion.” Upon reflection, Shores says, “I am happiest
when I am in the theatre, as a director, watching characters I have created come to life. There is no greater pleasure. I adore actors so much—we writers don’t have a career without them.” Shores took an additional moment for gratitude, “I love and adore Celebration Theatre, it is a great pleasure to step on their stage. I have worked in many theatres in L.A., and I am really happy to work with their team. I also have to thank Emerson Collins, right now, I am living my Karma… I have been directing him for so long, he finally gets to direct me.”
Six Characters in Search of a Play runsthrough Tuesday, March 27 at the Celebration Theatre inside The Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Avenue in Los Angeles. For tickets and more information, call 323.957.1884 or go to
celebrationtheatre.com.
46
RAGE monthly | MARCH 2018
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